While Commons Speaker John Bercow has spoken out that he is “strongly opposed” to Donald Trump addressing Parliament during his state visit, saying it is an “earned” right and not a guarantee, plenty of other world leaders have been allowed to make the address during their state visits. Conservatives are annoyed that Bercow is bringing his own opinions and his own political agenda into the decision, when he should be thinking about the broader picture of the UK’s relationship with the US.
Barack Obama addressed Parliament during his state visit
Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama, who is now living it up in retirement, spoke to Parliament during his state visit.
Beyond that, Bercow has been called out as a hypocrite by Conservative MPs, as he has allowed other world leaders with similar reputations to Trump to address Parliament on state visits, such as President Xi Jinping, who is known for abusing the human rights of the Chinese people and (funnily enough) also enforced a Muslim ban in his country, and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose Government is more corrupt than Baltimore.
Bercow is quoted as saying to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait who doesn’t allow Israeli passport holders into his country, during his state visit, “Your Highness, it is my privilege to welcome you here to our Parliament.”
